Computer system for determining a state of mind and providing a sensory-type antidote to a subject

ABSTRACT

Computer implemented method and system for achieving a preferred state of mind of a user are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises detecting a biological marker (biomarker) of a user utilizing one or more sensors; and inferring a state of mind of the user based upon data received from the one or more sensors that are provided to computational hardware. Finally, the method includes providing an antidote to the user if the inferred state of mind is different than the preferred state of mind utilizing an actuator. In a second aspect, the system comprises one or more sensors for detecting a biological marker (biomarker) of the user and computational hardware for inferring a state of mind of the user based upon data received from the one or more sensors. Finally, the system includes an actuator for providing an antidote to the user if the inferred state of mind is different than a preferred state of mind.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/390,413, filed Dec. 23, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.application No. 15/003,732, filed on Jan. 21, 2016, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,566,411, the contents of which are hereby incorporated intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the wellbeing of anindividual and more particularly to a system and method for setting anindividual's mind to a preferred state.

BACKGROUND

When a person is more focused, or able to be in the person's preferredstate of mind, the person can be more productive for whatever he or sheis doing. And as the person is productive, he or she can be happier aswell. Additionally, when a person needs to rest, the person should haveenough good-quality sleep. After the person is well rested, he or shecan be healthier. What is desired is a system and method to help aperson to set the person's mind in a preferred state, which may befocused, asleep, or other state. The present invention addresses such aneed.

SUMMARY

Computer implemented method and system for achieving a preferred stateof mind of a user are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprisesdetecting a biological marker (biomarker) of a user utilizing one ormore sensors; and inferring a state of mind of the user based upon datareceived from the one or more sensors that are provided to computationalhardware. Finally the method includes providing an antidote to the userif the inferred state of mind is different than the preferred state ofmind utilizing an actuator.

In a second aspect, the system comprises one or more sensors fordetecting a biological marker (biomarker) of the user and computationalhardware for inferring a state of mind of the user based upon datareceived from the one or more sensors. Finally the system includes anactuator for providing an antidote to the user if the inferred state ofmind is different than a preferred state of mind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A represents a general categorization of mind states.

FIG. 1B represents a forgiving categorization of mind states.

FIG. 1C represents a less forgiving categorization of mind states.

FIG. 1D represents an asymmetrical categorization of mind states.

FIG. 2A represents an exemplified and non-limiting process comprisingmonitoring, inferring, and optional applying antidote, when this presenttechnology is utilized for mind tuning.

FIG. 2B represents an exemplified and non-limiting process comprising afirst set of additional recording, and adjusting, when this presenttechnology is utilized for mind tuning.

FIG. 2C represents an exemplified and non-limiting process comprising asecond set of additional recording, calculating, as well as optionalpromoting and adjusting, when this present technology is utilized formind tuning.

FIG. 3A represents an exemplified and non-limiting process comprisingmonitoring, inferring, and optional applying antidote, when this presenttechnology is utilized as a sleep aid.

FIG. 3B represents an exemplified and non-limiting process comprising afirst set of additional recording, and adjusting, when this presenttechnology is utilized as a sleep aid.

FIG. 4A represents an exemplified and non-limiting embodiment with 3devices.

FIG. 4B represents an exemplified and non-limiting embodiment withdetailed hardware block diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skillin the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the contextof a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications tothe preferred embodiments and the generic principles and featuresdescribed herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theembodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistentwith the principles and features described herein.

Under working conditions, people want to be productive and effective.But, most of the time, they cannot because their minds are untrained andthey cannot control their thoughts or emotions. They are easilydistracted by unintended thoughts, and the unintended thoughts tend tobe followed by agitated emotions. Besides mental distractions ofuncontrolled thoughts or emotions, dullness, unclearness, drowsiness andsleepiness are additional situations preventing people from beingproductive and effective.

Under resting conditions, people may want to sleep. But, many peoplehave difficulties falling into sleep since their minds are too agitatedor scattering. They cannot put their minds to rest, and consequentlytheir body cannot rest properly. This condition, especially ifprolonged, can cause harms to health.

SCATTERING is a first state of mind, while SINKING is a second state ofmind. In between these 2 furthest states, a third state of mind can becategorized as calm, focused, unbiased, awakened, clear, fresh, awareand peaceful. This present technology names the third state of mind asMINDFUL. From time to time, people actually pass the third state of mindthough very quickly and without noticing. This present technology mayhelp them to practice balancing their minds, in order to stay inMINDFUL, state longer thus their ability to focus is strengthened, forproductivity, effectiveness, and most importantly peace and harmony.Alternately, this present technology may help to set a person's mind insleep, an extreme condition of SINKING. This present technology is forsettling a person's mind a state preferred by the person. The preferredstate can be MINDFUL, SINKING, or another state.

The SCATTERING state may be further divided into sub-states. Anxiety,pain, surprise, fear, anger, joy, and sadness are some non-limitingexamples of the sub-states.

This present technology utilizes at least one sensor to notice, detect,measure, or monitor a person's heart rate (heartbeats), heart ratevariability (HRV), blood volume pulse (BVP), respiratory rate (breath),brainwaves (thoughts), blood pressure, body temperature, skin moisture,eye motion, speech pattern, facial expression, hand gesture, bodyposture, or a combination thereof. This present technology infers astate of mind from the detected physiological or biochemical responsesor activities. This present technology may utilize artificialintelligence (AI), neural network, convolutional neural network (CNN),deep learning, or other machine learning algorithm, to conduct theinferring.

When being utilized to train a person's mind to be MINDFUL, this presenttechnology remains silent, quiet, and delivering no antidote when aperson stays in MINDFUL. This present technology provides an antidoteimmediately after the person is leaning toward either of the 2 furtheststates (SCATTERING and SINKING), after the person falls into either ofthe 2 furthest states, when the person stays in either of the 2 furtheststates for at least a respective predetermined leeway period, or acombination thereof. By providing an antidote, this present technologyhelps the person reverse his or her movement toward or deeper intoeither of the 2 furthest states, and move toward and hopefully stayMINDFUL. An antidote to SCATTERING state could be similar to ordifferent from an antidote to SINKING state. An embodiment can eithermodel a mind as a continuous spectrum containing 3 general and adjacentstates: SINKING, MINDFUL and SCATTERING, or farther divide SCATTERINGstate into anxiety, pain, surprise, fear, anger, joy, sadness, othersub-state of emotion, or a combination thereof. When an embodimentdivides SCATTERING into sub-states, the embodiment may offer differentantidote for different sub-states.

When being utilized as a sleeping aid, this present technology remainssilent, quiet and delivering no antidote when a person stay in SINKING.This present technology provides an antidote immediately after theperson is leaning toward SCATTERING, after the person falls intoSCATTERING, when the person stays in SCATTERING for at least apredetermined leeway period of SCATTERING, or a combination thereof. Byproviding an antidote, this present technology helps the person reversehis or her movement toward or deeper into SCATTERING, and move towardSINKING. When being utilized as a sleep aid, an antidote to SCATTERINGcould be similar to or different from a SCATTERING antidote when beingutilized for training a person to be MINDFUL.

An antidote can be a sound, voice, visible object, vibration,environmental change, or a combination thereof. When the antidote is avoice, it can be a teaching, guidance, instruction, reminder,suggestion, advice, or a combination thereof. The antidote may beactionable to a person. This present technology may present a vocalantidote in different languages. This present technology may allow aperson to preselect an antidote from various options.

This present technology may adjust an antidote to avoidover-application, under-application, or both. For example, if a person'smind is not too scattering, the present technology may apply a weakerantidote potentially with an instruction spoken slowly. The presenttechnology may record a history to keep track of how a person respondsto a particular antidote. The present technology may adjust strength ofan antidote at least partially based on a history. For example, if theperson was irresponsive to an antidote and continued to stay in anexisting state, this present technology can decide to apply a strongerantidote potentially with an instruction spoken in a stronger tone. Thispresent technology may learn from a history of a current session, anaccumulated history of prior sessions, or both. This present technologymay present an instruction or teaching in various ways. For example, aninstruction or teaching may be presented in different tones, cadence,speed, strength, repetition gap, or a combination thereof.

This present technology may categorize persons (or users) into 2 or morelevels. This present technology may be more forgiving to level-1 persons(new users, or beginners) and provide them more allowance, by reducing asensitivity of a sensor, increasing a predetermined leeway period ofSINKING, increasing a predetermined leeway period of SCATTERING, or acombination thereof. By doing so, this present technology allows a widerrange of MINDFUL, and narrows a range of SCATTERING, a range of SINKING,or both. This present technology may be less forgiving to level-2 orhigher persons, by increasing a sensor sensitivity, reducing either ofthe two predetermined leeway periods, or a combination thereof. By doingso, level-2 or higher level persons will have a range of MINDFUL. Withpractice, on each level, a person will progress, require less guidance,and get better. This present technology may automatically promote,recommend, motivate, or otherwise encourage a person to a higher level,when the person is able to remain in a preferred state of mind for apredetermined period of time, a predetermined ratio of time, needingless guidance, or a combination thereof.

This present technology may utilize an application or other kind ofsoftware. The application may record a duration of a session, a time logcomprising a starting time when a person enters a particular state ofmind and a name of the state (e.g. SCATTERING, MINDFUL, or SINKING), alog of any occurrence of an antidote, a chart or other graphicalrepresentation of mind's movement in the 3 states, or a combinationthereof. When being utilized to train a person's mind to be MINDFUL, theapplication may motivate a person to continue to use this technology tohelp the person remain in MINDFUL, by rating his or her record andpresenting the rating in an entertaining way. The application shouldpresent a higher rating when a person stayed longer in MINDFUL, had ahigher ratio of time in MINDFUL, completed a longer or entire session,required or triggered less antidote, or a combination thereof. Theapplication may provide a comparison between the rating and an averageor median rating of all persons.

The application may facilitate a self-report by a person. Theapplication may upload or otherwise transfer a self-report, a record,other datum, or a combination thereof. This present technology mayutilize a self-report, record, other datum, or a combination thereof totrain or test an artificial intelligence (AI), neural network,convolutional neural network (CNN), deep learning, or other machinelearning algorithm, for optimizing inferring accuracy, optimizing anantidote, or both.

Visual objects, sound, smell, taste, touch, or mental objects cantrigger uncontrolled or unintended thoughts. For example, a person hearsa sound of a car. A first thought is the hearing itself, which isdirectly connected with the person's functional hearing receptor—theear. A first thought is not the problem. But the person will likelycontinue immediately from the first thought to additional thoughts oftennot directly connected to the hearing sensory: e.g. “a red car? . . . ”,“my car needs some services tomorrow . . . ”; “but I can't bring it to adealer tomorrow because . . . ”. An uncontrolled continuation ofunintended thoughts is harmful to our productivity and peace.

Emotions include but not limited to anger, frustration, jealousy,arrogance, greed, depression, excitement, remorse, sadness, empathy,love, and appreciative joy. For example, people could say something veryprovoking to a person, and stir up the person's emotion. The person willusually follow his or her emotion, and become one who is being directedby the people.

FIG. 1A depicts a general and simple categorization that understands ormodels a mind as a continuous spectrum containing 3 adjacent states.From the left to the right, there are 3 mental states or states of mind,namely SINKING, MINDFUL, and SCATTERING. SINKING and SCATTERING are 2furthest states, while MINDFUL is a neutral state, “pure mind” free fromeither of the furthest states. In SINKING state, one of the 2 furtheststates, a person is dull, with unclear mind, drowsy, sleepy or asleep.In SCATTERING state, the other one of the 2 furthest states, a person isdistracted with uncontrolled thoughts, controlled by emotions, or both.In between the 2 furthest states, MINDFUL state is neutral and free fromSINKING and SCATTERING. In MINDFUL state, a balanced state, a person iscalm, focused, unbiased, awakened, clear, fresh, aware and peaceful.

An embodiment may either deploy this simple categorization of 3 generaland adjacent states of mind, or additionally split the SCATTERING stateinto sub-states that comprise anxiety, surprise, fear, anger, joy,sadness, other emotion, or a combination thereof. When an embodimentadditionally splits the SCATTERING state into sub-states of mind, theembodiment may apply a different antidote for a different sub-state.

FIG. 1B depicts a forgiving division of the 3 states of mind, givingmore allowance and a wider range of MINDFUL. This present technology mayreduce sensitivity of a sensor with analog or digital means, increase apredetermined leeway period of SINKING, increase a predetermined leewayperiod of SCATTERING, or a combination thereof, to widen a range withinwhich MINDFUL is defined for a person. By doing so, this presenttechnology will not discourage the person with too many antidotes whenthe person tries to train his or her mind. This forgiving approach mayhelp a beginner or new user. This disclosure names a beginner or newuser as a level-1 person.

FIG. 1C depicts a less forgiving division of the 3 mental states, givingless allowance and a narrower range of MINDFUL. This present technologymay increase sensitivity of a sensor with analog or digital means,reduce a predetermined leeway period of SINKING, reduce a predeterminedleeway period of SCATTERING, or a combination thereof, to narrow a rangewithin which MINDFUL is defined for a person. By doing so, this presenttechnology will help a person farther train his or her mind with anearly antidote and prevent the person from going too far into a furtheststate. This less forgiving approach may help an experienced user. Thisdisclosure names an experienced user as level-2 person. This technologymay classify persons or users into 2 or more levels.

FIG. 1D depicts an asymmetrical division of the 3 mental states,allowing a boundary between SINKING and MINDFUL and a boundary betweenMINDFUL and SCATTERING to be defined separately. This present technologyallows monitoring a same physiological or biochemical response oractivity for inferring all states of mind, or monitoring a differentphysiological or biochemical response or activity for inferring adifferent state of mind, or both. A sensor sensibility, a predeterminedleeway period, or both can be same or different when inferring adifferent state of mind. Though FIG. 1D shows a wider range of Sinkingas a non-limiting example, this present technology also allows wideningof Mindful state, widening of Scattering state, or any kind ofasymmetrical division.

This disclosure defines a biological marker (biomarker) as a measurablebroad category of phenomenon, sign, characteristic, activity, event, orfeature; indicating a biological process, a body condition, aphysiological state, a biochemical response, or a combination thereof.Non-limiting examples of biological marker (biomarker) comprise heartrate or heartbeats, heart rate variability (HRV), blood volume pulse(BVP) or blood flow, respiratory rate or breath, brainwave, skintemperature, skin conductivity, eye motion, speech rate, facialexpression, and body posture.

FIG. 2A depicts an exemplified and non-limiting process when thispresent technology is utilized for mind tuning. With Monitoring 201,this present technology utilizes at least one sensor to monitor at leastone biological marker (biomarker). With Inferring 202, this presenttechnology infers a state of mind. With Conditional Furthest Antidote203, this present technology applies an antidote if a person is ineither of the 2 furthest states for at least a predetermined leewayperiod (e.g. 0 to a few seconds); otherwise remains silent, quiet anddelivering no antidote. When a predetermined leeway period is 0, anembodiment may apply an antidote immediately.

An embodiment may either conduct a sketchy inferring wherein a state ofmind can be SINKING, MINDFUL or SCATTERING; or conduct a detailedinferring wherein the SCATTERING state is sub-divided into anxiety,pain, surprise, fear, anger, joy, sadness, other sub-state of emotion,or a combination thereof. When an embodiment conducts detailedinferring, subsequently embodiment may apply a different antidoteaccording to which sub-state a person is in.

FIG. 2B depicts a first extended and non-limiting process when thistechnology is utilized for mind tuning. In addition to elements 201, 202and 203, elements 214 and 215 are added. With Antidote Recording 214,this present technology records any antidote applied. Adjusting 215adjusts an antidote based on a record, a currently inferred state ofmind, or both. For example, Antidote Recording 214 may record that anantidote for SCATTERING is applied. Adjusting 215 may find a currentlyinferred state of mind becomes SINKING soon after being in SCATTERING.In this case, a person becomes SINKING quickly after a SCATTERINGantidote was applied. Based on both the record and the current state ofmind, this technology may make the antidote for SCATTERING weaker. Thisis to prevent over-application again, when the person falls intoSCATTERING again.

FIG. 2C depicts a second extended and non-limiting process when thispresent technology is utilized for mind tuning. In addition to elements201, 202 and 203, elements 224, 225, and 226 are added. Time LogRecording 224 records a time log comprising a starting time when aperson enters a particular state of mind and a name of the state (e.g.SINKING, MINDFUL, or SCATTERING). Calculating 225 calculates a durationwithin which a person stays in MINDFUL, a ratio representing arelationship between a total time in MINDFUL, and a total time in asession, or both. Conditional Promotion 226 automatically promotes orproactively motivates a person to a higher level of mind tuning, andadjusts sensitivity of the at least one sensor, the predetermined leewayperiod of SINKING, the predetermined leeway period of SCATTERING, or acombination thereof, if the person is automatically promoted to oractively accepted the higher level of mind tuning.

FIG. 3A depicts an exemplified and non-limiting process when thispresent technology is utilized as a sleeping aid. With Monitoring 201,this present technology utilizes at least one sensor to monitor at leastone physiological or biochemical response or activity. With Inferring202, this present technology infers a state of mind. ConditionalSCATTERING Antidote 303 applies an antidote if a person is in SCATTERINGstate for at least a predetermined leeway period (e.g. 0 to a fewseconds); otherwise remains silent, quiet and delivering no antidote.When a predetermined leeway period is 0, an embodiment may apply anantidote immediately.

FIG. 3B depicts a first extended and non-limiting process when thistechnology is utilized as a sleeping aid. In addition to elements 201,202 and 303, elements 214 and 215 are added. With Antidote Recording214, this present technology records any antidote applied. Adjusting 215adjusts an antidote based on a record, a currently inferred state ofmind, or both. For example, Antidote Recording 214 may record that anantidote for SCATTERING is applied. Adjusting 215 may find a currentlyinferred state of mind remains as SCATTERING. In this case, a personremains SCATTERING after a SCATTERING antidote was applied. Based onboth the record and the current state of mind, this technology may makethe antidote for SCATTERING stronger, select a different SCATTERINGantidote, or both. This is to prevent under-application again, and tohelp a person fall into sleep earlier.

This present technology helps a person to achieve or maintain apreferred state of mind. The preferred state of mind can be MINDFUL orSINKING, as exemplified with above non-limiting descriptions anddrawings. Likewise, the preferred state of mind can be SCATTERING aswell. When the present technology is embodied to help achieve ormaintain the SCATTERING state of mind, the SINKING state and the MINDFULstate are not preferred, but the SCATTERING state is preferred. Anembodiment for the SCATTERING state of mind may apply antidote when aperson is in SINKING, MINDFUL, or both. An embodiment for the SCATTERINGstate of mind may utilize a SINKING antidote, which is similar to ordifferent from a SINKING antidote from an embodiment for the MINDFULstate.

FIG. 4A depicts an exemplified and non-limiting connectivity of devices.This non-limiting example is suitable for a mind tuning system, asleeping aid system, or other system. An embodiment may comprise 3devices. These 3 devices may be integrated, packaged, or otherwiseenclosed inside an enclosure, and appear as a single product such like afitness wristband, earplug, earphone, headband, headset, smart watch,smart phone, smart glasses, smart wearable, or other product. It is alsoallowed to have these 3 devices as 2 or more separate products thatperform this present technology together.

A first device 401 comprises at least one sensor suitable to obtain,notice, detect, measure, or monitor a person's heart rate or heartbeats,heart rate variability (HRV), blood volume pulse (BVP) or blood flow,respiratory rate or breath, brainwaves, skin temperature, skinconductivity, eye motion, speech rate, facial expression, body posture,other physiological or biochemical response or activity, or acombination thereof. For example, a camera may be used as a sensor formonitoring eye motion, avoidance of eye contact, facial expression, bodygesture or posture, or a combination thereof. A photoplethysmography(PPG) sensor, comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) and aphotodetector, may be used to monitor a heart rate (beats per minute),interval from an onset of one R wave to an onset of a next one (R-Rinterval), heart rate variability (HRV), blood volume pulse (BVP),moving average of blood volume pulse peak-to-peak amplitude variation(MBAV), or a combination thereof. An electroencephalography (EEG) orother electrophysiological sensor may be used to monitor electricalactivity of a brain or brainwaves. A webcam with independent componentanalysis on color channels may be used as a sensor to extract the bloodvolume pulse (BVP), heart rate, respiratory rate, heart rate variability(HRV), or a combination thereof. An infrared thermometer may be used asa sensor to measure skin or body temperature. A galvanic resistancesensor, comprising 2 silver chloride (AgCl) electrodes and a voltagesource, may measure skin conductivity, galvanic skin response (GSR), orboth. A microphone may be used as a sensor to measure speech pitchvariables, speech rate, or both. A gyroscope sensor (gyro sensor),vibrating structure gyroscope, vibratory gyroscope, or accelerometer maybe used as a sensor to measure body posture, body gesture, or both. Anembodiment may utilize at least one sensor from these non-limitingexamples, a different sensor, or a combination thereof.

A second device 402 comprises at least one microcontroller,microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), system on a chip (SoC),or other computational hardware suitable to infer a state of mind fromat least one signal from the first device. The second device 402 maytreat a transient signal as a noise and ignore it. The second device 402may infer SINKING from nonlinear eye movement, yawning, heart ratereduction, slower or bigger brainwaves, other indicative physiologicalor biochemical sign, or a combination thereof. The second device 402 mayinfer SCATTERING from increased or rapid heart rate (heartbeat), heartrate acceleration, inter-beat interval (IBI) variability reduction,blood volume pulse (BVP) amplitude reduction, increased skintemperature, shortness of breath, increased respiration, fast breathing,other indicative physiological or biochemical sign, or a combinationthereof. When neither SINKING nor SCATTERING is inferred, MINDFUL isimplied. In such way, an embodiment may utilize the second device 402for simple inferring with 3 possible results: SINKING, MINDFUL orSCATTERING. Alternately, an embodiment may utilize the second device 402for detailed inferring by farther breaking down SCATTERING intosub-states. For example, for a detailed inferring, the second device 402may infer anxiety from avoidance of eye contact. The second device 402may infer pain from decreased amount of blood currently running throughthe vessels (BVP). The second device 402 may infer surprise fromincreased skin conductance level (SCL), increased skin conductanceresponse (SCR), increased heart rate, decreased blood volume pulse(BVP), decreased pulse transit time (PIT), or a combination thereof. Thesecond device 402 may infer fear from faster speech, louder speech,higher or wider pitch range, or a combination thereof. The second device402 may infer sadness from lower-pitched and slurred speech, slowerspeech, or both.

The second device 402 may classify or infer a state of mind by using adatabase, knowledge base, vector space model, statistical method,optical flow, active appearance model, linear discriminant classifier(LDC), k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), Gaussian mixture model (GMM),discriminant function analysis (DFA), linear discriminate analysis(LDA), classification and regression tree (CART), self-organizing map(SOM), Naïve Bayes algorithm, support vector machine (SVM), artificialintelligence (Al), artificial neural network (ANN), convolutional neuralnetwork (CNN), decision tree algorithm, hidden Markov model (HMM), deeplearning, other machine learning algorithm, or a combination thereof.The second device 402 may confirm an inferring immediately, or after asame state is inferred for a predetermined leeway period (e.g. 3 to 10seconds). The second device 402 may maintain a same predetermined leewayperiod for both SINKING and SCATTERING, or a different predeterminedleeway period for each of the 2 furthest states.

When being utilized for mind tuning, the second device 402 initiates anantidote after confirming a person is in either SINKING or SCATTERINGstate. The second device 402 may record a state confirmation with a nameof the state and a timestamp. After confirming a state of mind, thesecond device 402 may review a last record to check if the current stateis same as a last recorded state. If the current state is same as thelast recorded one, the second device 402 may initiate a strongerantidote. Otherwise, the second device 402 may initiate an existing orweaker antidote. The second device 402 may compute a maximum durationduring which a person remains in MINDFUL without triggering an antidote,a ratio representing a relationship between a total time in MINDFUL anda total time in a session, a length of longest session completed, or acombination thereof. The second device 402 may automatically promote orproactively motivate a person to a higher level of mind tuning. If theperson is automatically promoted or actively consents to the higherlevel, the second device 402 may increase a sensitivity of a sensorpotentially by adjusting a digital filter, decrease the predeterminedleeway period of SINKING, decrease the predetermined leeway period ofSCATTERING, or a combination thereof.

When being utilized as a sleep aid, the second device 402 initiates anantidote after confirming a person is in either MINDFUL or SCATTERINGstate. The second device 402 may record a state confirmation with a nameof the state and a timestamp. After confirming a state of mind, thesecond device 402 may review a last record to check if the current stateis same as a last recorded state. If the current state is same as thelast recorded one, the second device 402 may initiate a strongerantidote. Otherwise, the second device 402 may initiate an existing orweaker antidote. The second device 402 may compute a maximum durationduring which a person remains in SINKING (e.g. asleep) withouttriggering an antidote, a ratio representing a relationship between atotal time in SINKING and a total time in a session, a length of longestsession completed, or a combination thereof.

The second device 402 may facilitate a self-report by a person,potentially via an application or other kind of software. The seconddevice 402 may utilize a self-report to correlate or otherwise optimizethe inferring, an antidote, or both. The second device 402 may upload orotherwise transfer a self-report, a record, other datum, or acombination thereof. This present technology may utilize the uploaded ortransferred information to train, test, or otherwise optimize anembodiment, potentially utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), neuralnetwork, convolutional neural network (CNN), deep learning, or othermachine learning algorithm.

A third device 403 comprises at least one actuator, wired or wirelesslycoupled to the second device 402, to actuate an antidote by means ofsounds, voices, visible objects, vibration, environmental control, or acombination thereof. For example, a prominent vibrator may be used as anactuator to generate a sound, vibration, or both. A speaker may be usedas an actuator to synthesize, play back, or otherwise generate voices. Adisplay may be used as an actuator to present visible objects. A lightswitch or dimmer may be used as an actuator to control ambient lighting.An embodiment may utilize at least one actuator from these non-limitingexamples, a different actuator, or a combination thereof. An embodimentmay utilize 2 or more actuators to allow a person to choose fromdifferent kinds of antidote.

The third device 403 may record or otherwise store a teaching, guidance,instruction, reminder, suggestion, or a combination thereof, as anantidote. The teaching, guidance, instruction, reminder, or suggestionmay have multiple versions, in different languages, to allow choices oflanguages. The teaching, guidance, instruction, reminder, or suggestionmay have various presentations, in terms of tones, cadence, speed, or acombination thereof as antidotes of different strengths. Non-limitingexamples of teaching, guidance, instruction, reminder, or suggestion inEnglish are “settle the mind on the breath”, “awareness rests on breathas it enters and leaves the body”, and “when thoughts arise, simply letthem go”.

FIG. 4B depicts a non-limiting embodiment with detailed hardwarediagrams wherein a brainwave is selected as a biological marker(biomarker) and voices are selected as a means of antidotes. Thisnon-limiting hardware diagram is suitable for a mind tuning system, asleeping aid system, or other system. The brainwave is detectable incontact or contactless around a person's scalp. The non-limitingembodiment utilizes an electrode 411, made of silver chloride (AgCl), toreceive the brainwave. The electrode transmits the brainwave as a lowvoltage analog signal, which is filtered with a Butterworth filterconfigured to pass signals from 2 cycles per second (Hz) to 45 Hz. Afiltered 2-45 Hz analog signal is converted into a digital signal, by ananalog to digital converter (ADC), such as Texas Instruments ADS1291 oranother similar or better low-power analog front-end for bio-potentialmeasurements.

A digital signal processor (DSP) 412 is built with a timer andconfigured with a tightly coupled memory (TCM). An instruction read onlymemory (IROM) 413 is coupled with the DSP 412 to provide instructions inform of an application (app) software stack. The application softwarestack comprises ADC sampling instructions, to instruct the DSP 412 tosample the digital signal from the ADC at a predetermined rate orfrequency via a memory-mapped input port. The digital signal isprocessed in parallel with 2 Hamming windows to obtain a short-timeFourier transform (STFT) spectrum, to determine frequency contents ofthe digital signal as it changes over time. The DSP 412 executes atrained support vector machine or multiclass support vector machine(SVM) to analyze the STFT spectrum, and classifies or infers thespectrum into a state of mind.

The DSP 412 may utilize the TCM for Antidote Recording 214, Time LogRecording 224, Calculating 225, other software tasks, or a combinationthereof. The DSP 412 may adjust a coefficient of one of the Hammingwindows to vary sensitivity to a corresponding brainwave frequency,which may indicate either SINKING or SCATTERING. The DSP 412 may utilizethe timer as an adjustable predetermined leeway period for SINKING, asan adjustable predetermined leeway period for SCATTERING, or both.Varying sensitivity, adjusting a leeway period, or both is a way torealize Adjusting 215, Conditional Promotion 226, or both.

If the DSP 412 classifies or infers a state of mind other than apredetermined preferred state of mind, the DSP 412 initiates an audiodriver to play back a prerecorded antidote voice. The antidote voice istransmitted onto a memory-mapped output port. A digital to analogconverter (DAC) converts the digital antidote voice into an analogsignal, which is then filtered with an analog audio filter. A speaker413 converts a filtered audio signal into a corresponding voice,perceptible by the person's ears. The person may practice on, apply, orutilize an actionable advice conveyed in the voice.

The non-limiting embodiment, depicted by FIG. 4B, can also be applied topre-train a SVM, in a supervised learning. The supervised learningprovides a set of training examples, each marked for belonging to one ofstates of mind. With the training examples, the SVM builds a model thatlater assigns a set of testing examples to states of mind. After the SVMcorrectly assigns the test examples to their respective states of mind,the SVM is successfully trained.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with theembodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and thosevariations would be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

1. (canceled)
 2. A computer implemented method for mind tuning to apreferred state of mind of a user, the method comprising: providing acomputer system configured to tune a mind of the user to the preferredstate; converting at least one biomarker of the user to computerreadable data by utilizing one or more sensors that send signals basedon the at least one biomarker; inferring, with computational hardware, astate of mind of the user based upon data received from the one or moresensors; providing a first antidote or countermeasure of sensory-typestimulation to the user responsive to the state of mind of the userbeing different than the preferred state of mind; and providing a secondantidote or countermeasure of sensory-type stimulation to the user thatis stronger or weaker than the first antidote or countermeasure,responsive to the state of mind of the user remaining different from thepreferred state of mind after the first antidote or countermeasure isprovided to the user.
 3. The computer implemented method of claim 2,further comprising: determining the first antidote or countermeasurebased on the state of mind of the user and historical records describingprevious responses of other users to presented antidotes orcountermeasures.
 4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, furthercomprising: determining the second antidote or countermeasure based onthe state of mind of the user and the historical records describingprevious responses of other users to presented antidotes orcountermeasures.
 5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, whereinselecting the second antidote or countermeasure comprises: determining,based on the historical records describing previous responses of otherusers to presented antidotes or countermeasures an adjustment to performto the first antidote or countermeasure, the adjustment resulting in thesecond antidote or countermeasure.
 6. The computer implemented method ofclaim 4, wherein the adjustment is increasing or decreasing a volumelevel used in the first antidote or countermeasure.
 7. The computerimplemented method of claim 4, wherein the adjustment is increasing ordecreasing a speed level used in the first antidote or countermeasure.8. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the adjustment isincreasing or decreasing a tone level used in the first antidote orcountermeasure.
 9. The computer implemented method of claim 3, whereindetermining the first antidote or countermeasure comprises: determining,based on the historical records, a strength level at which to presentthe first antidote or countermeasure.
 10. The computer implementedmethod of claim 2, wherein the first antidote or countermeasurecomprises any of a sound, a voice, a visible object, a vibration, or anenvironmental change
 11. The computer implemented method of claim 2,wherein the state of mind of the user is one of a sinking state or ascattering state and the preferred state of mind is a mindful state. 12.A computer system configured to tune a mind of a user to a preferredstate, the system comprising: one or more computer processors; and oneor more computer-readable mediums storing instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more computer processors, cause the computersystem to perform operations comprising: converting at least onebiomarker of the user to computer readable data by utilizing one or moresensors that send signals based on the at least one biomarker; inferringa state of mind of the user based upon data received from the one ormore sensors; providing a first antidote or countermeasure ofsensory-type stimulation to the user responsive to the state of mind ofthe user being different than the preferred state of mind; and providinga second antidote or countermeasure of sensory-type stimulation to theuser that is stronger or weaker than the first antidote orcountermeasure, responsive to the state of mind of the user remainingdifferent from the preferred state of mind after the first antidote orcountermeasure is provided to the user.
 13. The computer system of claim12, the operations further comprising: determining the first antidote orcountermeasure based on the state of mind of the user and historicalrecords describing previous responses of other users to presentedantidotes or countermeasures.
 14. The computer system of claim 13, theoperations further comprising: determining the second antidote orcountermeasure based on the state of mind of the user and the historicalrecords describing previous responses of other users to presentedantidotes or countermeasures.
 15. The computer system of claim 14,wherein selecting the second antidote or countermeasure comprises:determining, based on the historical records describing previousresponses of other users to presented antidotes or countermeasures anadjustment to perform to the first antidote or countermeasure, theadjustment resulting in the second antidote or countermeasure.
 16. Thecomputer system of claim 14, wherein the adjustment is increasing ordecreasing a volume level used in the first antidote or countermeasure.17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that,when executed by one or more computer processors of a computer systemconfigured to tune a mind of a user to a preferred state, cause thecomputer system to perform operations comprising: converting at leastone biomarker of the user to computer readable data by utilizing one ormore sensors that send signals based on the at least one biomarker;inferring a state of mind of the user based upon data received from theone or more sensors; providing a first antidote or countermeasure ofsensory-type stimulation to the user responsive to the state of mind ofthe user being different than the preferred state of mind; and providinga second antidote or countermeasure of sensory-type stimulation to theuser that is stronger or weaker than the first antidote orcountermeasure, responsive to the state of mind of the user remainingdifferent from the preferred state of mind after the first antidote orcountermeasure is provided to the user.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising:determining the first antidote or countermeasure based on the state ofmind of the user and historical records describing previous responses ofother users to presented antidotes or countermeasures.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, the operationsfurther comprising: determining the second antidote or countermeasurebased on the state of mind of the user and the historical recordsdescribing previous responses of other users to presented antidotes orcountermeasures.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 19, wherein selecting the second antidote or countermeasurecomprises: determining, based on the historical records describingprevious responses of other users to presented antidotes orcountermeasures an adjustment to perform to the first antidote orcountermeasure, the adjustment resulting in the second antidote orcountermeasure.
 21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim19, wherein the adjustment is increasing or decreasing a volume levelused in the first antidote or countermeasure.